Antique Impressions: North Ontario Trees
North Ontario Trees
Clinging to dreaming old rock.
Spring slowly returns,
Trembling roots await the sun;
Chilled stone recalls summer.
North Ontario, Trees
Suspended between seasons,
Trapped on a page.
Time taped at the corners,
Old photographs recall spring.
On my way to work,
Passing those trees so often.
They have grown taller.
Spring slowly returns again.
My bones, like the chilled stone,
Recall the summer.
Should’ve I tarried longer ?
Note: More photos of current area just beyond the school parking lot. Poetry form - mostly Tanka.
Surreal Thursday: North Ontario Rock
When you live in North Ontario, you acquire a different perspective on things. You see things from a different angle. It is the rock. It juts and protrudes & intrudes from any variety of directions. It creates patterns that merge with the more organic forms that cling and grow on and between the rock.
Trees, shrubs, small plants, moss, and lichen live and thrive on and amongst the rock. Yes, it should be rocks, but really there is only one rock. The Precambrian Shield strong and united, even when fractured. It is one rock on which we stand, commute, build, work, play, and sleep. You never escape the rock.
The rock is everywhere, even when you try to hide it with pavement, concrete, asphalt, homes, schools, malls, and sundry buildings. It is older than dirt. More confident than the oldest tree. Only its sisters the sky and sea can compare. They however are temperamental, always changing. The rock simply is and will always be.
In North Ontario, time is measured by these things, sunlight, wind, precipitation, temperature, and the rock. The first four divide up human memory into manageable chunks. The rock measures out eternity.
Note: The original shots were all taken right next to the school parking lot, just a few feet from where I regularly park my car.
The Spanish River Inn -Again!
So, as predicted, on Thurday of this week, we returned again to The Spanish River Inn. This time it was an afternoon visit. Tasha’s respite worker had arrived and Liz & I were on a “real date“. We did bring down some of her artwork for display at the Inn, but with the pleasant weather and another delightful meal, it was a very relaxing experience.
As you can see, I did get some exterior shots of the establishment and what you would see looking across the street. Martine and Brent will quickly admit that there is still work to do on refurbishing the exterior and making further modifications to the interior. (See: From mini-putt to Ottawa and back ) The next phase will begin in the Spring ( based on today’s weather, it would appear that Spring is desperately trying to grow up into Summer fast ).
Once we had taken in the Lynx Table and some other pieces ( See: Art of the Drum ), we checked out the Special of the day.
We both went with the Special, the Ham Apple Sandwich. Wow, what a sandwich. Honestly we were not sure what to expect. You do not automatically think of Black Forest Ham, slices of apple, and black pepper-garlic aioli . I had only the vaguest recollection of what aioli was. What it was was heavenly. Even my son, who can be fussy, would have loved this.
The lady in charge that afternoon was “Smiling Sue” Beckerton. My wife requested the French Onion soup – she really enjoyed the soup at the last visit – and Sue graciously and efficiently made the necessary modifications to the order. I went with the side order of fries and I can understand why Tasha had gobbled them up on our previous visit. These were “Real fries with skins” with a wonderful seasoning.
Dining Room Spanish River Inn
Our leisurely meal allowed me the opportunity to take a few photos of the pub/bar area, where the piano and guitar were waiting for the musically inclined.
On The Rocks at The Spanish River Inn
We topped the lunch off with dessert. My wife had the Raspberry Strudel, while I tried the White Dark Chocolate Mousse Cake. If you must run into a mousse up here on a Northern Ontario highway, this is the only kind that will leave a smile on your face. The cake was light and it is an excellent chocolate fix for an afternoon.The Deep Dish Pecan is still my favourite, but I can not live that dangerously twice in one week; well I can, but I really shouldn’t, even on March Break.
Pitcher Perfect
There is one particular building I must comment on. It has puzzled & intrigued me for years. I have been wanting to photograph it for sometime now, but the opportunity had never arose before. It is in bad shape and abuts the railway. As mentioned in the earlier post, part of Spanish’s development was tied to the railway and the Inn occupies the same site as the original hotel.
Brent explained to me that the “ugliest building in town” was once a train station. After the original one burnt down in the 50′s the “contemporary block building ” was constructed on the same spot where the first building had been. The town is in process of making arangements with the rail-line to do something with the building. They will have to see if it is in any way salvageable, or if they will demolish it and build something in its place. In either case, being in such close proximity to the tracks means permission is required to do any work. This also means that these images may be some of the last before changes begin.
In closing, it was a great afternoon of food, local sight-seeing & photography. As a bonus, we just got news that one of Elizabeth’s pieces has been sold. Oh, as to my vehicle, it had no trouble handling the impact of the mousse – my belt was only mildly irked.
Reminder: Clicking images will in many cases show larger more detailed image.
Update: Martine sent me this photo of the station.
Spanish River Inn
We started off our March Break on Saturday with fine dining. It was a wonderful evening. The food, the setting , the company , and the musical entertainment were all excellent and very memorable. My wife is less satisfied with my cooking efforts now, sigh. I even made sour-dough banana pancakes Sunday morning, but she kept talking about the food from the night before. So we will have to return again …, and again, and again to The Spanish River Inn.
For those who are not that familiar with the area, the community of Spanish, Ontario, is located in an area that is known as the North Shore (above the North Channel of Lake Huron). As you drive west from the Sudbury District , along the Trans-Canada Highway, 17 and enter the Algoma District you will pass through Spanish, but don’t do it ! Stop at the Spanish River Inn & Restaurant. Better yet, stay a while and enjoy the food, hospitality, and area. (Town of Spanish Home page )
The Town of Spanish is situated at the mouth of the Spanish River where it empties into the North Channel of Lake Huron. This river and its ecologically rich delta have had a positive impact on the development of the community of Spanish. The river has played an important and continuous role in the local economy from the days of the fur trade, through the timbering era, fishing, and now contributes to the tourism industry.
According to legend, the Spanish name was derived around the year 1750. As one of the many theories goes, Ojibway warriors penetrated the South-West to Spanish-occupied territories, and on their return to the North Channel, they brought back with them at least one person who spoke Spanish. Marrying into the community, possibly a local chief/community leader, they raised a large family. Whatever the truth is, French explorers and traders discovered that the native families in the area had Spanish words, names and phrases as part of their vocabulary, hence the French referring to the Spanish River and the community of Espanola.
Early settlement of the area gained momentum in the latter part of the 1800′s with the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in February 1884, between Lake Nipissing and Algoma, now known as Algoma Mills. According to an article in the Ontario Gazetteer, by 1903–1904, the Spanish River Station (the railway designation for Spanish) had a population of approximately 200 with two timber companies operating in the vicinity: Huron Lumber Co. and Spanish River Co. W. H. Graham operated a general store, William Coget ran the hotel and the local blacksmith as well as the Postmaster was Gustavo Hamilton.
The Spanish River Inn Retaurant & Motel stands on the location of the original hotel. The ghosts of the past may walk this modern establishment, but that is because of the hospitality, wonderful foods, and lively entertainment that is provided here.
Wooden Quilt Hanging at Spanish River Inn
As I said in the opening we started our March Break with a delightful evening. It wouldn’t be us without a small glitch in the plans. Our respite worker got the times a bit mixed up and her cell-phone had a hissy-fit, more like a no hiss/dial/reception fit. So we had to convince our daughter that we couldn’t wait and she was going on an outing with mom & dad instead. What can I say, it was a full moon week – see last Thursday’s post .
We passed friends & teaching colleagues on their way out, as we entered. They had huge smiles on their faces. They commented on the banner sign my wife had made that was hanging up inside. (The banner was for a special gathering of in celebration and reconciliation of Native Residential School students that was occurring this weekend).
Inside we were greeted by the owners, Marine Fabris and her husband Brent St. Denis. You could feel the warm and inviting atmosphere that was established for all visitors to their establishment. My wife presented them with a paddle that she painted in honour of our visit that it could be added to the work that was already hanging on the walls of the dining room. What you see first on the walls are enlarged photographs of Spanish in the early years of development.
The dining area is open and spacious. Previous owners of the motel tended to emphasize the fishing tours and trucking trade. The atmosphere at that time reflected this male gathering place. Now it is warmly lit and no longer feels like a dark smokey man’s den. If you weren’t assured that this was a whole different world, you just had to look at the special of the evening.
My wife chose the special, my daughter had the chicken tenders and home cut fries, and I had the steak. Like my wife’s meal, it came with asparagus and a warm potato & cabbage slaw. The medium rare steak was perfect and was complimented by the peppery slaw and vegetable side.
Martine’s son, David Hillis, is the chef. I know you are thinking, well this is a small community clinging to the highway, so the chef is just a cook, au contraire. David Hillis is a , a 23 year old graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Ottawa . He has taken extra studies in pastry making and as part of his training had the opportunity to prepare food for the Governor General, the current Prime Minister of Canada (I don’t hold that against him), and dignitaries.
Spanish River Inn Raspberry Strudel
The challenge that David faces is taking all his skills and adapting to his range of clientele . With retires on fixed incomes, to tourists, fishermen, and truckers, it is an intriguing challenge. His goal is casual fine dining. Fortunately, David’s background includes a maternal grandmother who was famous for her huge Friday night family meals. Her family dishes of rustic French cooking prepared him well. He understands both the fine dining and the family kitchen tradition on which it is based.
David is also an accomplished musician and singer ( Hint: CBC/Food Channel there is a tv show waiting to happen here). His other goal is develop a cultural hub of food, visual arts & entertainment. This brings us to the musical portion of the evening. See: Chef wants restaurant to grow into cultural hotspot
The featured performer for the evening was Rusty McCarthy. He is a blues/folk/jazz guitarist who has performed with Mary-margaret O’hara and Allannah Myles .
Well we had promised my daughter Tasha music. Where there is music and Tasha there is also dancing. After dancing with her mom, she dragged Brent out on the floor and eventually got to dance with the chef.
So what else can I say. We topped the meal off with fabulous desserts My wife had the raspberry strudel and I had the Deep Dish Pecan Pie. You know, I can remember when David and my son were taking swimming lessons at the Elliot Lake Community Pool. In fact, I can remember being a newly minted green teacher with a study period that had a grade 12 student named Martine.
I think I’ll just stop now and leave you with the smiling face of our waitress, Tara Muncaster. Martine says Tara is gold and would like to clone five more of her. What do you expect, but a golden employee at a gold standard restaurant ?
Note: You can see larger sharper images if you click the photos. You can find the Auberge Spanish River Inn on facebook. If you come to visit be ready to dance.
Watch the Road
A Hitchcock moment on the highway outside of Toronto – hope they don’t fly in our direction.
Heads-Up
I have been trying to keep ahead of a lot of work, but things seem to keep jumping to the front of the line. The metal horse sculpture is located In Elliot Lake. Will have more shots and information on a later post. Our Chinese Water Dragon got a daguerreotype frame-effect. I added little lizard motifs to this one. I seem to be seeing things clearly through a new perspective, or maybe it is the allergy medication and the final arrival of normal cold winter weather ( winter post coming soon,……, hopefully). The fountain heads are from the fountain is on the grounds Elm Hurst Inn & Spa ( Ingersoll Ontario ).
Surreal Thursday: Leaf, Water, Fire
It is another Surreal Thursday. This self-portrait find me a bit under the leaf. At least it so shows off my green eyes. The earthy tones of this shot balance out the the elements of fire and water in the next image.
Book of Memories: Gifts, Travel & Birds
As time passes and the years accumulate, we fill our book of memories. There are gifts and knick-knacks that have been there since childhood. Memories are stored and unlocked by the anniversary clock, the magical green lantern, and the old coffee grinder that was full of news.
We travel about, through Necessity and Desire. We see a world full of the wondrously mundane, the strangely familiar, and the wildly exotic/ exotically wild. One day it is Nature’s stone crafted by man , while the next is Nature’s gifts, perfectly posed.
Note: The fountain is on the grounds Elm Hurst Inn & Spa ( Ingersoll Ontario ). The birds were photographed at the African Lion Safari .
Fantasy Cars
Cars are cultural icons. They represent a shifting set of values and beliefs. They are media content and in some ways, they are themselves a form of transportable media. Like clothing they can be an extension of who we are and what we wish we were. They offer both physical escape and psychological escape. They can confirm how we feel about ourselves and our place in the world, or convey our desire to be in another reality completely.
Safari So Good
Photographs were taken late summer at the African Lion Safari Park in Ontario. We can only wonder what the animals think of us as we drive through in our vehicles or on bus tours.
Wheels
Vehicles photographed in early October near the community of Spragge . I attempted to create a hyper-realistic quality in the two car images that would contrast with the antique metal wheel patterns in the other two images.
Ice Cream Moose and Fudge Factory Gulls
The Northern end of Highway 6 in Ontario passes through Espanola and then reaches Highway 17. As the highway crosses the Spanish River you can see the Spanish River Dam and the Domtar paper mill. When you reach the northern tip of Highway 6 you could choose to turn right(East) toward Sudbury or left(West) toward Sault Ste, Marie. You could cross the Highway 17 to get gas or stop Tim Hotons/Wendy’s. Locals know that for ice cream, fudge and beautiful gifts that you go to The Northwest Trading Post.
The Northwest Fudge Factory hold the Guinness World Record for the world’s largest slab of fudge (2004, 2005, 2007, and 2010). Next to fudge the other addicting treat is Farquhar’s Ice cream.
Signs of Nature
Taken at the end of August,on the way south on highway 400; the signs of Nature were everywhere.
Memories of Summer
A bit of summer memories through an antique lens -
Time and Space are bent and tinted,
Like an image captured by a camera.
The memories developed in the darkroom
Of reveries, dreams, and passing seconds.
The Past and the Future are now mirrors,
Reflecting our hopes and longings.
Truth is in the eye of the beholder.
Note on time & place: The first image was taken by Port Severn, late this Summer. The second was taken in early September at Lake Lauzon.
Fall Colour
Here are two impressions of the fall colour that were taken at the Elliot Lake Fire Tower park & scenic lookout on Sept. 25. The second shot is of the cabin information centre. It was modified to suggest both the time of year and reflect the historical purpose of the building.
Antique Impressions: Perspectives
This post is all about perspectives, temporal and visual. The original three photographs all emphasize perspective. They were taken at different times. All three have been modified to remove them, at least partially, from an accurate historical context. The first piece was taken on end of the Thanksgiving weekend on our way home, north on Highway 400.
The second piece was taken September 10, on our way home from the staff party at the principal’s camp on Lake Lauzon. This was the less dramatic ( steep & narrow) part of the drive. We were getting closer to the highway by this point and I could pry my fingers loose from the armrests to use the camera.
The final piece was taken a couple of years ago, at Westview Park. the bridge and trail beyond leads to the boat launch at the tip of Elliot Lake. As you can see each image leads you further into the past and further from a definite point in time. Photography both captures moments in time and constructs a reality that can take the subject/scene out of the original context . memories are both preserved and transformed in the process.
Fall Colours1: Red Motorcycle
These two images are based on a photograph taken a couple of weekends ago during the Elliot Lake Arts on the Trail exhibit (Sept. 24-25). The weekend was beautiful with vibrant fall colours and warm weather. On the way down from Fire Tower park, I managed to get the shot of the Red Motorcycle on its way up. Here is the second darker version of the shot. My wife prefers the second one. So I guess, people will have to choose their own preference.
Traveling Tractor
Another Twilight Zone impression of travelling south on Highway 400 in early September. The chained tractor suggested a creature being transported through the beckoning wilderness. Then again it may have longed for huge rolling farm land. In any case, there was an impression of wheels within wheels and motion both released and withheld.
Modern Obelisk 2
A variant design based on the original modern obelisk photograph that was taken at the beginning of September.
It has been a hectic month and a half. I am behind on my intended posts and replies to comments. Hopefully things will settle down by the end of the week. Enjoy the day !
Postcards Gone Wild
These postcards were based on photos taken at the African Lion Safari at the end of summer. The postcards are a little wild and a bit 1960′s . let’s see who gets the Canadian music reference in the second postcard. oh, remember to drive carefully, it is a jungle out there.
Antique Impressions: Truck Wheels Rolling
Moving on down Highway 400, through Muskoka toward Barrie in the Southern Ontario, I photographed a passing truck. The processing suggests an earlier photographic method. It is not quite one particular time period, but a blend of several; travelling on stretches of Northern Ontario highway can create that feeling. The mix of contemporary structures & transportation with older buildings interspersed with the wild trees and rock can create a Twilight Zone-show experience,where time is out of joint.
Antique Postcard: Depot Lake Ontario
Travelling Highway 108 south from the community of Elliot Lake, you will pass Depot Lake. You actually cross it at a narrow creek. There is a boat launch, picnic area, and fishing. This shot was taken Saturday, September 10, 2011, on the way home to Elliot Lake. The shot was processed to resemble an aged antique postcard.
Farm – Ontario Canada
The original photograph was taken while travelling between London and Toronto September 4, 2011. It was somewhere between the fading green of Summer and the growing gold of Fall.
Modern Obelisk 1
As we headed north from Toronto on Highway 400, I got a shot of this unusual small tower ( not sure what it is for). The weather was getting dismal; it was late in the day and the edge of the storm that was following us from London was almost upon us. As a consequence of the shooting conditions, the photo needed work, and as I played with it the tower came to remind me of an ancient obelisk from a distant future.
This is the first variation on this shot. I will be posting two more later on in the week. Also, I am in process of getting a new page - Tutorial: Textures & Layers – ready for posting. Enjoy the day!
Recent Comments